Dear Mother:
‘I hope this letter finds you well. How has your health been lately? Have you been taking your medicine on time? You must, must spend the money I sent you. Otherwise, Lilian will be very angry~
Don't worry, Lilian hasn't been doing anything strange! Really, really!
Do you remember the eldest young master of the Reinhardt family, the one who rarely showed his face in our Tidevoice Domain and was rumored to have an eccentric and harsh personality? Lilian is currently working under him.
As for the work, they say it's being a maid, but there isn't actually much hard labor.
Let me quietly tell you another secret, and that is—
Lilian is now a noble mage!
How about that? Were you super shocked? But this is all thanks to Master Lynn...
The Young Master said that Lilian actually has an incredibly, incredibly powerful talent for magic~ He said I'll definitely become a big, famous figure in the future, and he even gave me a nickname. What was it... 'Sinfire Red Lotus'?
I'll secretly complain about the Young Master here, since he can't see this anyway. His taste in naming things is really strange.
How could anyone go outside with such an embarrassing title?
Oh, right, I also have to thank the gentle Sister Sena! Even though she was very strict during these past few months of special training. But thanks to her, Lilian is—very strong now!
Next time we run into those bad guys who come to collect illegal debts, I can "bang, bang—" beat them up and chase them away!’
Leaning by the window with her cheek resting in her hand, Lilian had a gentle expression on her face as she bit the end of her pen, deep in thought about what to write next.
The study door was pushed open without ceremony, and a sweaty, panting Lynn rushed inside.
With a face full of complaints, he leaned in. “Lilian, aren't you done yet? I can't handle that gorilla by myself.”
“What are you writing? Let me have a look.”
Lilian instantly stuffed the letter into her chest like a hen protecting her chicks, turning her head away with a soft snort. “Hmph! I'm not letting the Young Master see~”
She pushed away the approaching Lynn. “Young Master, you're smelly. Go take a bath already~”
“Wh... What!?”
Lynn felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
“Lilian, you've changed. You weren't like this at the beginning...”
“That's all because the Young Master corrupted me, bleh~”
She made a cute face and continued to write away.
‘Mother, Lilian also wanted to ask, what was it like when you and Father fell in love?
Of course, please, please don't overthink it! Lilian is just a bit curious!’
She quietly glanced at the dejected Lynn in the distance.
‘What does it actually feel like to fall in love with someone?
That is all!
Your most, most, most precious daughter—Lilian Anasette’
“Get ready to go to the hall! The gorilla is calling us again!” Lynn called out to her from afar.
“Coming, coming.” With a warm, spring-like gaze, she jogged to catch up.
...
Three months flew by in the blink of an eye.
The opening day of the Imperial Royal Magic Academy was also drawing near.
According to a certain handsome, blonde youth who wished to remain anonymous, it was truly a painful, devilish special training.
Things like being forced to recite magical codices while sparring with swords, or being suddenly thrown into the Magical Beast Mountain Range in the middle of a deep sleep to begin a wilderness survival course...
That damn Sena was really training him and Lilian like beasts of burden!
Every day they were trained until they were black and blue, and at night they had to painfully chew through dry, hard magical knowledge.
This black-hearted woman, I bet she was just taking revenge for the strike that made her lose face back then!
But thanks to her...
【Name: Lilian】
【Mana: 4.0; Physique: 1.1; Charm: 3.0】
Lilian had masterfully grasped a massive library of Tier 1 to Tier 3 fire spells, and had even successfully crossed the threshold into a Tier 4 Mage.
As for Lynn himself... He looked down at his own status panel.
【Name: Lynn von Reinhardt】
【Mana: 3.5 (Mid-stage Tier 3!)】
【Physique: 2.9 (Half... Half-step Tier 3?)】
【Charm: 3.1 (A confident man is the most charming)】
【Emotion Points: 4,900】
Every stat had improved significantly, and even his Emotion Points were approaching the 5,000 mark.
Most importantly—
“The current me is no longer that clumsy, combat-clueless rookie.”
He had successfully accumulated a wealth of practical combat experience. It was no exaggeration to say that if he were to face his past self who had just awakened his memories, the current Lynn could beat ten of him with one hand.
Thinking of this, Lynn led Lilian into the hall.
Sena had already been waiting here for a long time.
She stamped her foot in dissatisfaction and urged, “Too slow!”
“You both know why I've gathered you here so solemnly today, right?”
What else could it be? Of course, it was—
Sena pulled a gold-embossed invitation out from her bosom.
“The Imperial Royal Magic Academy is about to start registration!”
Lynn's expression instantly turned serious, while Lilian, who was standing beside him, lowered her head in disappointment.
They were about to be separated soon...
Noticing her downcast look, Lynn cleared his throat and played the straight man:
“Sena, I remember I already have an admission letter. So the one in your hand is...”
Sena shook the invitation in her hand with a knowing smile. “Who said the invitation in my hand is for you, Young Master?”
If it wasn't for the Young Master, then could it be...
Lilian realized belatedly and raised her head, only to see Lynn stuffing the invitation into her arms.
He grinned broadly and said:
“Aren't you going to open it and take a look, our genius lady mage?”
With trembling fingers, she took it and eagerly tore it open.
To Miss Lilian Anasette,
With the joint guarantee of Sena Reinhardt, an outstanding graduate of our school, and the Reinhardt family on the school board, we sincerely invite Miss Lilian to enroll in our school as a 'Specially Admitted Magic Student.'
“A specially... admitted magic student?”
“Yeah, they call it a special admission, but it's actually an unspoken rule among the empire's nobility.”
“Many nobles will sponsor talented commoner mages, promising them great benefits and providing the resources they need for cultivation, allowing them to enter the magic academy as special admissions.”
“The mages, in turn, must sign a strict contract to work a brutal 996 schedule for the noble family. This is commonly known as becoming a 'Follower Mage.'”
Lynn explained, then said with a serious face, “Of course, I absolutely detest such feudal contracts of indenture! So the contract I've prepared for you, Lilian, is absolutely fair and free!”
Lilian took the contract scroll Lynn handed over.
“Labor contract...?” she murmured, reading the strange terms. “Regular salary payments? Social security benefits...?”
Ugh... she couldn't understand it at all.
But it didn't matter! The Young Master would never harm her!
Her expression suddenly froze, and she stared blankly at the very end of the contract.
Whether the Reinhardt family prospers or declines, whether the mountains and seas change with the passage of time.
Are you willing to remain by the side of Lynn von Reinhardt, faithful unto death?
She pressed the thin contract to her chest, squeezing it so tightly it felt as though she wanted to merge it into her heart.
Her deep blue eyes reflected the youth's face.
Lilian's eyes curved into crescent moons, her smile blooming like a flower.
“Yes! I do!”
She said resolutely.
【Emotion Points +1,000】
Rate on N.U.
